Democrats say Obama key in wealthy banker bailout vote switch

Several Democratic members of the House of Representatives Friday said calls from Barack Obama helped convince them to switch their votes and back a 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout.

Maryland Democratic representatives Donna Edwards and Elijah Cummings said they had both received calls from the party’s White House nominee, after voting against the original package in the House on Monday.

“It meant a lot to me that somebody who at least has a 50-50 shot at being the next President of the United States would take time,” Cummings said.

Obama said during the call that he would push attempts to reform bankruptcy laws to help ill-fated homeowners escape foreclosure, Cummings said, but stressed urgent action to save the US financial system was vital.

“We will work on this, but right now we have got to straighten this out,” Cummings quoted Obama as saying.

Edwards said that Obama reached out to her on Thursday morning, as she was considering how she would come down in Friday’s looming vote.

The bill was defeated on Monday by 225 votes to 208, a setback which sent stocks marks diving. The House was on Friday considering an amended version drawn up by the Senate and adopted by that chamber on Wednesday.

“I had a very good conversation with Senator Obama yesterday morning, and I had to weigh on that the entire day in coming to this decision,” Edwards said.

GOLDMAN SACHS CONTRIBUTIONS:

Obama, Barack (D-IL) $691,930***
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $468,200
Romney, Mitt (R) $229,675
McCain, John (R-AZ) $208,395***
Himes, Jim (D-CT) $114,748
Giuliani, Rudolph W (R) $111,750
Dodd, Christopher J (D-CT) $105,400
Edwards, John (D) $66,450
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) $47,600
Emanuel, Rahm (D-IL) $32,950
Reed, Jack (D-RI) $30,100

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtMQFHBqLwqub55GP9-JLffOJZ9g
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  • video added October 03, 2008

11 comments // Democrats say Obama key in wealthy banker bailout vote switch // Video

  •  

    Time to vote out those who betrayed us and vote third party.

    DandelionSalad
  •  

    Very disappointing.

    Vierotchka
  •  

    Democrat = Republican = Politician.

    "Politician" = "bought and paid for."

    dkincheloe
  •  

    Not surprising. He like them all was only looking to his benefactors.

    JanforGore
  •  

    I happen to know that in Obama's talks with these legislaters he told them when he is president reforms
    will be coming hard and fast. For now they did what's best for the economy. I for one believe Obama will be the next FDR. The next new deal if we arn't in armed insurection by then.

    kennymotown
    1 comment on this
  •  

    Cynthia McKinney & Rosa Clemente have earned my vote.

    I was never fooled by Obama.
    Mccain has Tourette syndrome ( it's clear after his horse shit outburst) & too many houses.

    VegaNerDiva
  •  

    Just the "change" you wanted all you sheep out there!

    recommended by maasanova
    Wesnology61
  •  

    No we can't!

    SDLN
  •  

    I am by no means a supporter of the two party monopoly but I also live in reality and recognize how important it is to rally behind this guy and then work from there.

    You "no nonsense" third party supporters should try exercising some strategy and tact. Come down to earth.

    If you live in a blue state then vote third party but if you live in a swing or red state then you are damning the world by not voting for Obama.

    It's just good strategy.

    HolyCity2012

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